The Ideal Listing Months are Coming Soon!
Thinking about selling your home? Timing could make a big difference in how much you walk away with. Zillow’s latest research shows that homes listed in the second half of May sold for an average of 1.6% more in 2024—adding about $5,600 to the sale price of a typical U.S. home. The reason is simple: buyer demand peaks right before Memorial Day, as families try to move before summer vacations and the new school year. With more buyers competing for fewer homes, sellers are in a stronger position to get top dollar.
Of course, the best time to list varies by location. In some places, like San Diego and Austin, sellers saw the highest prices as early as March. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, the prime selling window stretched into November. In San Jose, the difference was even more dramatic, with homes listed at peak season selling for 5.3% more—an extra $93,200 on a typical home. Other markets saw smaller gains, but across the board, the right timing gave sellers an edge.
Even if you can’t wait for the perfect week to list, there are still ways to maximize your sale. Homes that hit the MLS right away and are marketed to the widest audience tend to sell for more. Certain features, like backyard upgrades and outdoor entertainment spaces, have also been shown to increase a home’s value. Plus, high-quality listing photos, 3D tours, and interactive floor plans make a home more appealing to online shoppers, leading to faster sales and higher offers.
Mortgage rates add another layer of unpredictability. When rates dip, buyers flood the market, pushing prices up. When they rise, demand slows. Recent years have shown that the housing market isn’t as predictable as it once was, so while late May has historically been a strong time to sell, sellers should be ready to adapt to changing conditions.
In the NRV, we consider the hot market to start up in March, but April and May are usually ideal listing months. Have a house to sell? Give me a call!
Source Inspiration: Zillow